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Archive for the ‘traditions’ category

It’s a no brainer that a list can help you stay on track and knock off all those pesky tasks you’d rather not think about. So why not a list to ensure you do all the fun things you can squeeze into a summer? Fill it out and then feel the satisfaction — not only in checking things off the list but also in experiencing all the fun things summer can bring. This just might be the summer you actually do it ALL!

The end of the school year is here for some (and fast approaching for the rest) so it’s time to think about how to tell your child’s teacher just how special they are. Here is some great inspiration from Cool Mom Picks for finding or creating that perfect gift that shows your appreciation and documents the memorable moments from this school year.

I was over my neighbor’s house last weekend and she happened to share with me an incredible tradition that’s been going on for many years now.

Instead of plastering over a drywall section in their basement, they left it unfinished and encouraged their grandkids to draw and write on it. What started out as a way to entertain youngsters quickly turned into a tradition that continues to this day, now that the little grandkids are big grandkids in college and high school.

When you first glance at the wall, you’re overwhelmed with the collage of art and messages. There is hardly an open spot. As you study it closer, you see how handwriting improved over time and how the scale of the art grew to match the height of the kids.

What a fun tradition to uphold during each visit and what a great tribute to family, friends and pets. What my neighbor values more than anything? Overhearing her grandkids speak fondly of going to grandma’s and writing on the wall. Awesome!

I wanted to share a new tradition we started this year called the Year of Awesomeness Jar. I actually had this in my brain last year but it didn’t find its way out until this year

First, you think about all the great things that happened to you and your family in the past year. The sky’s the limit here… did someone do great in school or sports? Did anyone volunteer? Was it a year of trying new things? Did your sports team rock it? Did you adopt new pets or did you keep the family fish alive for another year? Did you travel to favorite places or discover new ones? Were you eating homegrown tomatoes into November? You get the idea.

Then, typeset them on the computer or simply write them on paper. Then fold them in half and place in a jar or hat or any container. You can even add some confetti or streamers to liven up the presentation. Do it all yourself as a surprise to the family or have everyone contribute their own.

On New Year’s Eve, have each person take turns pulling one out and reading it aloud. It’s fun to be reminded of good things from the past year and how much awesomeness you have in your life, if you pause to recognize it.

Thank you 2013, for all your moments of awesomeness. May 2014 follow in your footsteps!

I’m a huge fan of all kids of advent/countdown calendars and love the wide variety of ones you can buy or make. If you’re looking for an alternative to candy or trinkets, consider using ornaments that can be added to the tree each day.

Yes, it’s December 6th, but there’s still time to put together a 15 or 10-day countdown to the big day. Or even better, start today!

Thanksgiving is now less than two weeks away! If you’re hosting for the holiday, then the menu is probably at the top of your to-do list. But before the hustle and bustle in the kitchen starts, now is a good time to think about what kind of a centerpiece will set the stage for your beautiful meal. Consider going all natural with your vases by using squashes and pumpkins. For large varieties, cut a hole near the top with a mini saw and insert a container to hold water. Or use a votive candle holder for smaller ones. You may need to trim a little off the base so it sits flat.

If visiting a pumpkin patch is on your fall agenda, you’ll want to check out these inspiring decorating ideas! Tired of taking the carved pumpkin approach? These ideas don’t involve carving tools OR pumpkin guts. The best part? You’ll get to enjoy them much longer than the carved ones which begin to decay a few days later.

If you’re looking for a fresh alternative to the traditional birthday candles, check out this approach by Martha Stewart. Instead of surprising your child with her cake, consider involving her in the decorating process by encouraging her to create the cake topper. Not only will her cake be a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, it can also become an annual tradition that captures her ever changing interests and talents.

In addition to finding a fun way to celebrate going back to school, another tradition is taking the annual first day portrait. There are several great ideas on Cool Mom Picks, from simple portraits with signs to more detailed lists of your child’s favorite things at that moment in time. It’s also a great time to record a journal entry and/or record a quick “interview” to capture their unique voices and pronunciations. I always feel a little wistful on that first day when the house is empty so I write my annual letter to my daughter, which she’ll receive when she’s grown up and heading off to college or getting married.

It’s that time of year — back to school. Our family still has two glorious weeks of summer left but there’s no denying what’s just around the corner. Here are some fun ideas from Babble to celebrate new years and new chapters. My daughter and I always plan an all day date the day before school and do things like go to the park, get ice cream and play mini golf. And I’m a big fan of the first day portrait and lunch notes. As far as the back-to-school breakfast goes, we can only aspire to that one — we are more night owls than early birds!